Forestry machine and method of operating forestry machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11730094-B2
Application number	US-202016804273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2020
Priority date	Feb 28, 2020
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

A forestry machine includes a ground propulsion apparatus, a vehicle body supported by the ground propulsion apparatus, an operator seat disposed on the vehicle body, a first control lever operable by an operator sitting in the operator seat, a work implement including a saw, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a first user input disposed on the first control lever. The first user input is operatively coupled to the work implement. Power to the saw is engaged upon the first user input being operated in combination with another operation. A method of operating a forestry machine includes operating a first user input disposed on the first control lever. Power is engaged to the saw in response to the first user input being operated in combination with another operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A forestry machine comprising:
a ground propulsion apparatus;
a vehicle body supported by the ground propulsion apparatus;
an operator seat disposed on the vehicle body;
a first control lever operable by an operator sitting in the operator seat;
a work implement movably attached relative to the vehicle body, the work implement including a saw; and
a control circuit including
a first user input disposed on the first control lever, the first user input being operatively coupled to the work implement, and
a second input operatively coupled to the work implement, the second input being disposed on the first control lever, and the first user input and the second input being disposed at different positions laterally spaced from each other on the first control lever,
power to the saw being engaged upon the first user input and the second input both being operated.

2. The forestry machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
power to the saw is disengaged in response to a single operation.

3. A forestry machine comprising:
a ground propulsion apparatus;
a vehicle body supported by the ground propulsion apparatus;
an operator seat disposed on the vehicle body;
a first control lever operable by an operator sitting in the operator seat;
a work implement movably attached relative to the vehicle body, the work implement including a saw; and
a control circuit including
a first user input disposed on the first control lever, the first user input being operatively coupled to the work implement, and
a second input operatively coupled to the work implement, the second input including a pair of manual inputs,
power to the saw being engaged upon the first user input and both the manual inputs being operated; and

a dashboard supported by the vehicle body, the second input being disposed on the dashboard.

4. A forestry machine comprising:
a ground propulsion apparatus;
a vehicle body supported by the ground propulsion apparatus;
an operator seat disposed on the vehicle body;
a first control lever operable by an operator sitting in the operator seat;
a work implement movably attached relative to the vehicle body, the work implement including a saw;
a control circuit including
a first user input disposed on the first control lever, the first user input being operatively coupled to the work implement, and
a second input operatively coupled to the work implement,
power to the saw being engaged upon the first user input and the second input both being operated; and

a second control lever, the second input being disposed on the second control lever.

5. The forestry machine according to claim 4 , wherein
power to the saw is disengaged in response to a single operation.

6. A forestry machine comprising:
a ground propulsion apparatus;
a vehicle body supported by the ground propulsion apparatus;
an operator seat disposed on the vehicle body;
a first control lever operable by an operator sitting in the operator seat;
a work implement movably attached relative to the vehicle body, the work implement including a saw; and
a control circuit including
a first user input disposed on the first control lever, the first user input being operatively coupled to the work implement, and
a second input operatively coupled to the work implement, the second input including a passive input indirectly operable by the operator,
power to the saw being engaged upon the first user input and the second input both being operated.

7. The forestry machine according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a cab supported on the vehicle body, the cab having a door openable to allow the operator to enter and exit the cab,
the passive input being a door closed detector.

8. The forestry machine according to claim 6 , wherein
power to the saw is disengaged in response to a single operation.

9. A forestry machine comprising:
a ground propulsion apparatus;
a vehicle body supported by the ground propulsion apparatus;
an operator seat disposed on the vehicle body;
a first control lever operable by an operator sitting in the operator seat;
a work implement movably attached relative to the vehicle body, the work implement including a saw; and
a control circuit including a first user input disposed on the first control lever, the first user input being operatively coupled to the work implement to engage and disengage power to the saw in response to operation of the first user input,
power to the saw being engaged upon multiple identical movement operations of the first user input within a predetermined time period being performed.

10. The forestry machine according to claim 9 , wherein
power to the saw is disengaged in response to a single operation.

11. A method of operating a forestry machine including a saw and a first control lever operable by an operator sitting in an operator seat, the method comprising:
operating a first user input disposed on the first control lever; and
operating a second user input, the operating the second user input including operating an input disposed on the first control lever at a different position laterally spaced from the first user input,
power being engaged to the saw in response to the first user input and the second input both being operated.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising
performing a single operation to disengage power to the saw.

13. A method of operating a forestry machine including a saw and a first control lever operable by an operator sitting in an operator seat, the method comprising:
operating a first user input disposed on the first control lever; and
operating a second user input, the operating the second user input includes operating a pair of manual inputs disposed on a dashboard of the forestry machine,
power being engaged to the saw in response to the first user input and the second input both being operated.

14. A method of operating a forestry machine including a saw and a first control lever operable by an operator sitting in an operator seat, the method comprising:
operating a first user input disposed on the first control lever; and
operating a second user input, the operating the second user input including operating an input disposed on a second control lever of the forestry machine,
power being engaged to the saw in response to the first user input and the second input both being operated.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising
performing a single operation to disengage power to the saw.

16. A method of operating a forestry machine including a saw and a first control lever operable by an operator sitting in an operator seat, the method comprising:
operating a first user input disposed on the first control lever; and
operating a second user input, the operating the second user input including operating a passive input indirectly operable by the operator,
power being engaged to the saw in response to the first user input and the second input both being operated.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein
the operating the passive input includes operating a door closed detector that indicates whether a door of a cab of the forestry machine is open or closed.

18. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising
performing a single operation to disengage power to the saw.

19. A method of operating a forestry machine including a saw and a first control lever operable by an operator sitting in an operator seat, the method comprising:
operating a first user in

Assignees

• Komatsu Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Gibson Kendrick Michael

Classifications

• A01G23/091 Primary

  Sawing apparatus specially adapted for felling trees (A01G23/081, A01G23/083, A01G23/093 take precedence) · CPC title

• A01G23/08

  Felling trees · CPC title

• G05G1/04

  Controlling members for hand actuation by pivoting movement, e.g. levers · CPC title

• G05G7/00

  Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with one single controlled member; Details thereof (controlling members G05G1/00) · CPC title

• G05G7/12

  specially adapted for actuating a member on a system in motion with respect to the controlling member, e.g. on a rotating shaft · CPC title